Bed wedge - to buy or not to buy - Oesophageal & Gas...

Oesophageal & Gastric Cancer

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Bed wedge - to buy or not to buy

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21 Replies

Hello Everyone

Would anyone who has had the Ivor Lewis surgery be kind enough to tell me if they bought a bed wedge and if they found it helpful or not please, my husband is due surgery in the near future, thank you in advance.

Sacha 🌼

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Shoad
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21 Replies
MyBigC profile image
MyBigC

I bought a bed wedge system and, post Ivor Lewis, used it for months, and hated it. Now I find that one small wedge behind two upright pillows works is much more comfortable and accomplishes the same thing.

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Shoad in reply to MyBigC

Thanks for your advice 🙂

gutlesswonder profile image
gutlesswonder

healthunlocked.com/user/gut...

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Shoad in reply to gutlesswonder

Thank you 😊

Paulbrighton profile image
Paulbrighton

I bought the bed wedge from puttnams info@putnams.co.uk and I love it. With two pillows (not on top of each other but one in front of other pillow) on I am so comfortable and sleep really well. I find it cosy and even if I have eaten late, the food doesn’t seem to rise up. I have a smaller one for travel and a bigger one for my home bed. I love my wedgie and after a year can’t imagine sleeping any other way. I have the memory foam ones.

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Shoad in reply to Paulbrighton

Thank you for your comment x

AoifeMcC profile image
AoifeMcC

I still use my one 12 years later :)

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Shoad in reply to AoifeMcC

12 years!! Fantastic thank you 😊

Horses444 profile image
Horses444

Yes definitely get a wedge you cannot lay Flat anymore to sleep because you have no schincter valve to stop acid and pliiows shift so a wedge will give you a good nights sleep

CJ Mudgee Aust

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Shoad in reply to Horses444

Thank you for your advice x

ANichol profile image
ANichol

My advice would be to buy one but...we bought 2, different sizes- neither were comfortable. (Subsequently passed on via Gumtree.) Bought a squishy bean filled cushion, Amazon, moulded in to Hubby’s back, kept him on his side, did the trick. Now 22 months post op and back to sleeping with normal pillows. My advice would be to wait and see. Hope all goes well x

slobjohnb profile image
slobjohnb

At home I have an adjustable bed which is brilliant but when we are away visiting or in our caravan I always use the wedge pillow. Takes some getting used to so it doesn't slip but really essential when you sleep on your back as most of us have to.

Love mine. Still need extra pillows but so much easier with the wedge. Very hard not having it when I’m away.

Hctc profile image
Hctc in reply to

Agree. Wedgie has really helped my husband for the last 2 years. We got the 45 degree pillow.

tallbear profile image
tallbear

Hi there, I must be the odd one out! I didn't purchase a wedge, I purchased a metal frame arrangement where you can adjust the angle of slope on it and have it underneath your pillows. It has about six different positions and is very versatile if like most of us you have to sleep on your back in a semi sitting up position because of the risk of aspirating into your lungs.

I am three years plus since my Ivor Lewis and I can't sleep without being propped up so I find it very useful, and very comfy.

Good Luck with everything

Shoad profile image
Shoad in reply to tallbear

Thank you 😊

Shortfatbald profile image
Shortfatbald

Had my op nearly a year ago and bought a wedge a month after op.

Have found it invaluable for a good night's sleep and haven't had issues with acid reflux disturbing my sleep since I got it.

Definitely worth giving one a try.

Shoad profile image
Shoad

Thank you 😊

luluw profile image
luluw

My hubby has an adjustable bed which has been brilliant. He also sleeps with a v shaped pillow which stops him sliding sideways. We also find the v pillow works when we're travelling as a couple of hotel pillows and the v one props him up enough. Another essential piece of kit I bought was a stool for the shower-he won't be able to stand up safely for a bit.

Good luck with the surgery. Keep in touch and let us know how you get on. There's lots of invaluable advice here!

Lou xxxxx

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Shoad in reply to luluw

Thank you so much, surgery is tomorrow 🤞🙏x

luluw profile image
luluw in reply to Shoad

It's a very long day for both of you. Hope everything goes well. He will be surrounded by loads of tubes and wires afterwards which will gradually disappear. The staff in the ICU were amazing-supportive of me as well as him.

Keep in touch

Lou xxx

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